Question 1

What is Athens, Georgia famous for?

Accepted Answer

Launching college rock: R.E.M. and the B-52s both formed here, Widespread Panic followed, and the 40 Watt Club and Georgia Theatre still anchor one of America's great small-city music scenes. The University of Georgia — the state's flagship, chartered in 1785 — gives the town its pulse, most loudly on fall football Saturdays "Between the Hedges."

Question 2

What is there to do in Athens?

Accepted Answer

Catch a show at the 40 Watt or Georgia Theatre, walk the UGA campus and North Campus arches, find the Tree That Owns Itself and the double-barreled cannon, tour the free State Botanical Garden of Georgia, and graze downtown's bars, record stores and restaurants — Weaver D's soul food ("Automatic for the People") named an R.E.M. album. Creature Comforts brewery is the local pride.

Question 3

When is the best time to visit Athens?

Accepted Answer

Fall (September–November) is peak Athens — football Saturdays, 60s–70s°F, and the music calendar in full swing — but know that home-game weekends sell out hotels months ahead at painful rates; check UGA's schedule before booking. Spring (March–May) is gorgeous and calmer. Summers are hot, quiet and cheap with students gone.

Question 4

What is a UGA football Saturday like?

Accepted Answer

A takeover: 93,000 fill Sanford Stadium to watch the Bulldogs "Between the Hedges," tailgates blanket campus from early morning, and downtown roars red and black until late. Even without a ticket, the atmosphere is worth experiencing once — ring the Chapel Bell after a win like everyone else. Non-fans should simply visit on a non-game weekend.

Question 5

Is Athens safe?

Accepted Answer

Yes — it's a friendly college town, and downtown, campus and the visitor spots are comfortable, including at night when crowds are out. Late-night downtown has typical bar-district rowdiness on weekends; normal awareness covers it. Emergency number: 911.

Question 6

Do I need a car in Athens? How do I get there?

Accepted Answer

Downtown and campus are compact and walkable once you arrive, but you'll almost certainly arrive by car — Athens is about 70 miles east of Atlanta (1.5 hours, longer in game-day traffic), and most visitors fly into Atlanta (ATL) and drive or take a shuttle. Athens' local buses exist, but a car is the practical choice for exploring beyond downtown.

Question 7

What food and drink is Athens known for?

Accepted Answer

Soul food at Weaver D's (its "Automatic for the People" motto became an R.E.M. album title), The Grit's vegetarian classics beloved by generations of musicians, late-night slices and biscuits downtown, and a serious beer scene led by Creature Comforts (of Tropicália fame) and Terrapin. Five & Ten brings the white-tablecloth end. It's a cheap, excellent eating town.

Question 8

Why is Athens' music scene such a big deal?

Accepted Answer

In the late '70s and '80s this small Georgia town improbably invented much of college rock: the B-52s' first party gig (1977), R.E.M.'s debut at a converted church (1980), and a venue-and-record-store ecosystem — the 40 Watt Club above all — that kept generations of bands coming. The scene never stopped; on any weekend you can still catch tomorrow's band for a few bucks.

Question 9

When was Athens established?

Accepted Answer

Athens was founded around 1806.

Question 10

What languages do people speak here?

Accepted Answer

English; Spanish is spoken by 40+ million people — dominant in parts of Miami, LA, Texas and the Southwest.

Question 11

What is Athens known for?

Accepted Answer

Athens is known as: Georgia's music-and-college town — birthplace of R.E.M. and the B-52s, home of the University of Georgia and its rabid football Saturdays, and a legendary downtown bar-and-band scene.

Question 12

What is the nearest major airport?

Accepted Answer

DeKalb Peachtree Airport (PDK) — about 86 km away.

Question 13

What timezone is it in?

Accepted Answer

Athens is in the UTC-5 to UTC-10 timezone.

Athens

Airports near Athens

DeKalb Peachtree Airport

Athens at a Glance

Nearby places to explore

Famous Places Near Athens

Info about Athens